Genealogy Category
More Gophering for SHELDON Origin Clues: The Technique works for any Surname
Posted on November 24, 2021 3 Comments
In our search for the origins of Isaac SHELDON of Windsor, Connecticut and John SHELDON on Kingstown, Rhode Island As I wrote previously we gophered deep down on the early settlers of Windsor Connecticut who came with Rev Ephraim HUIT / HEWITT in our gopher networking (from my earlier post). Please note the HUIT or […]
Divorce Decree on Ground’s of Extreme Cruelty: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 25
Posted on November 19, 2021 Leave a Comment
June 1 – At Westlunds sewing June 2 – Lolita and Dewey came over to Jessie Millers. Syl, Jes, Dew, Lo. and I went as far as Oakland Lo & I called on the kiddie R’s and I accompanied Lo. as far as the mole? and returned alone to Hayward; walked out at 1-2 in […]
Getting in Trouble in Early Rhode Island: John SHELDEN / SHELDON of Newport & Kingstown
Posted on November 13, 2021 1 Comment
I have come to love the ancestors that got into mischief and survived to be my ancestors. Such is the case of my dear John SHELDEN and one of the first records of him on these shores. I, like my cousin Dale SHELDON find his escapade a delightful insight into our ancestor. Newport From The […]
Happy that the World Still Contains a Little Joy: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 24
Posted on November 12, 2021 Leave a Comment
Thursday April 11 Fri 12 – Sat 13 — Helping Jessie with her washing & housework and looking over my diary. Sunday April 14 – Spent most of the day writing. Later in the afternoon Mrs. Miller & I went call on Mrs. Hausenbalg. She is an old woman of German birth and widow of […]
The Shelter of My Big Bay Tree: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 23
Posted on November 11, 2021 1 Comment
Fri Feb 1 1918– Usual routine Sat Feb 2 – Usual housework, sewing, etc. baking Sun Feb 3 – Eilenes birthday anniversary and they all except Milo came over to Jessies. Frank brought them their water pipe, window sash, sack potatoes and box of Newton Pippin apples. Dewey brought my hamper. Jessie put up my […]
How a Historical Novel Inspired my Genealogy Research: In Praise of Gopher Holes
Posted on November 11, 2021 Leave a Comment
In my blog post “They Aren’t Rabbit Holes they are Genealogy Networks” I wrote about my deep dive back into 15th and 16th Century documents while trying to locate the origins of 17th Century English immigrants to America. This is the another part of the story. It all started when Dale and I were planning […]
Gophering for British Surname Origins
Posted on November 8, 2021 3 Comments
Although similar resources can be had for surnames for other places, in this post we are concentrating on British origins. Doesn’t really matter what side of the Atlantic you are on, some time or other you will face families that left no bread crumbs as to where they hark from. If you are lucky the […]
They Aren’t Genealogy Rabbit Holes they are Gopher Networks
Posted on November 7, 2021 8 Comments
We’ve had it wrong. Genealogists who go off on tangents who hop from this to that chasing rabbits back to their dens, we have the wrong metaphor. I have both hares and gophers in my backyard so I am surprised I did not figure this out earlier. But here goes…you know the drill you are […]
Drunkards & Lunatics: The Case for Original Records & Research
Posted on October 29, 2021 1 Comment
I cut my teeth in genealogy back in the early 1970’s when I spent many a day in the Prothonotary’s Office of Cameron County Pennsylvania in Emporium. Emporium is the county seat and its population has averaged between 2,000-3,000 for most of its last 150 years. So not a very big place and when I […]
Location, Location, Location: Finding Records Look EVERYWHERE Part 2
Posted on October 20, 2021 1 Comment
In my last post on locations I failed to mention a few things that caused me some frustration today. I only had a couple of hours to photograph records when I was in South Kingstown RI. While I was there the clerk mentioned the earliest records were actually in North Kingstown which I did not […]
Wheaton Wood 